FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A Broward County man who is facing charges in the deaths of a state trooper and a truck driver was arrested several times, especially in Broward County, where officials also said he was wanted on two warrants related to aggravated battery and weapons charges.
Michael Addison, 30, led Florida Highway Patrol Trooper James Zachary Fink on a chase in which Fink crashed into a truck, killing the 26-year-old trooper and the truck driver Friday morning on Interstate 95.
Port St Lucie
Broward County man, 30, faces charges in deaths of FHP trooper, truck driver
Officials haven't publicly released Addison's motive for speeding away from Fink and another state trooper, who elected not to pursue Addison.
Court records show Addison's probation was revoked in May 2022 after police said he choked out his ex-girlfriend in December 2021 and failed to pay fees related to his probation.
Paula McMahon, who is a spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office in Broward County, said in an email that prosecutors were unable to go forward with the domestic violence case after the victim declined to cooperate and there was no independent evidence to support the charge.
According to court records, Addison was on probation for five years after a plea deal was reached with prosecutors, wherein he placed his photo on a phony ID with information from a man in Boca Raton. He then tried to open debit card accounts with the fake identifications and had keys to a Lexus, also registered under the man's name in October 2020.
He would serve about 1 year in Broward County jail after having his probation revoked.
Police also said Addison stole iPhones in August 2021 after he worked with another Walmart employee who pretended to scan two iPhones before handing the devices to Addison. Police said the Walmart manager previously gave him trespassing warnings.
Court records show prosecutors abandoned their prosecution. McMahon said prosecutors dropped those charges after video evidence showed Addison wasn't the culprit.
Police said Addison became aggressive and punched a woman in the face with a closed fist. Then he dragged her outside of a hotel room by holding her bra in February 2020. The officer said she saw minor visible injuries, which included minor swelling and redness.
McMahon said prosecutors were unable to go forward with the domestic violence case after the victim declined to cooperate and there was no independent evidence to support the charge.
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Court records from Miami-Dade County show Addison also received two years probation as part of a plea agreement for various weapons charges, including possession on school property, in 2019. He also received probation for three years after facing burglary and grand theft charges in 2012 in Broward County.
Addison has also not paid fines worth thousands of dollars related to these offenses and various traffic citations.
Court records also show Addison was evicted from an apartment in Broward County after he owed landlords about $2,000. The rent for the unit was about $700.
The arrest report has not been released by the FHP or the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.
Addison was being held in the St. Lucie County Jail without bond.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to give the reasons and rationale for why some cases were abandoned by prosecutors.
